Belt sander



Feb. 21, 1939. 1 Wl B. @CKEY 2,147,840

` BELT SANDER Filed Dec. 6, 1937 f3 fz@ 4a 95 -Z 1 f# Z0 M /y Z7- 57 I 7g ZZ @j 23 Zfmm /e INVENTOR.

33 2f BY i ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED `STATES NT OFF I CE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in belt Sanders of the type employed in woodworking shops for sanding lumber.

It is common to subject Vlumber that is to be used for furniture andother purposes to a sanding yoperation for giving it a smooth surface that will take a line finish and this is usually accomplished by means of a belt sander comprising a stationary lframe having spaced pulleys mounted for Yrotation about `parallel axes. One pulley is power driven and a sanding belt encircles the pulleys. The work is supported on an adjustable frame that -is positioned underneath the sanding belt and which is movable transversely thereof and which isalso vertically adjustable. Such sanders are very satisfactory `but they are quite expensive and require a large `amount of room.

It is the principal idea of this invention to produce a belt sander lthat is suspended from a frame -in such a man-ner that it can be moved both transversely and longitudinally as well as vertically and which can also swing transversely. The work can bevsupported on carpenter horses or a movable `table and even on `the iioorand the sander brought into position above the work. Such a sander is comparatively cheap to make and takes up very little room and is therefore especially well adapted for small cabinet and furniture shops, where -both rst cost and room are items of importance.

The belt sander that forms the `subject of this invention comprises a suitable frame, usually constructed from wood, and which supports two pulleys which carry the sanding belt. The frame is extensible to permit the belt to be tightened or loosened. The frame is suspended from a track that extends transversely of the frame, by means that permits it to move transversely of the track and to swing transversely, means `is ,provided `for raising and loweringone end of the frame so as to adjust it with respect to the work.

Having thus briefly described the invention, the same will now be described in detail, and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying-drawing in which the invention has been `illustrated and in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of the sander;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section on line 2--2 Fig. l;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 Fig. 2; and

Figure 4 is alsection taken on line 4-4 Fig. 2.

In the drawing reference numerals 5 designate two spaced parallel tracks supported at a suitable distance above the floor of a shop. Attached to or forming part .of members 5 are metal or wooden tracks 5. Suspended from the tracks 6 by means of track pulleys I of the kind employed With overhanging doors, is a rectangular frame 'la comprising sides 8 and ends .9. A shaft I0 is journaledin bearings II and is provided with a worm gear I2 that cooperates with a worm I3 onshaft I4. A crank I5 serves to turn shaft I4. Attached to the ends `9 are pulleys I5. Steel cables I1 are attached to the center drum section 10 I8 of shaft I0 and have `their `ends attached tothe upper frame member I9 by means of links 20. One of the/cables I1 is provided with a turnbuckle 2| by means of which the sander can be tilted longitudinally.

If vit should be found to be desirable to shift the sander `in the direction of its length, the sides 8 may be provided with tracks 6 and a frame similar to frame 'la suspended from these tracks, all in a manner quite clear.

The sander frame, in addition to the upper frame member I9, already mentioned, has a frame member l22 and ends `23 and 24. A diagonal brace 25 connects the end 23 with upper frame member I9 `and a similar diagonal brace 25 con- 25 nectsend 24 with frame member 22.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. l and 3 it Will be seen that frame member I9 is provided with adove tail slot 21 that extends to the end of the frame member. The sides forming the wall of the slot are connected by straps 28. Secured to `the frame member 22 is a dove-tail strip 29 that cooperates with the inclined walls of the slot 21. It will be observed that the two frame members `I9 and 22 are telescopically con- 35 nected so that the length of the frame can be varied. The links 20 are both connected with the frame member I9. A rod 30 has one end secured in an opening in the end of frame member 22 and the other provided with an elongated A threaded screw 32 passes through an opening in a metal plate 33, attached to members YI9 and 23, and has Va collar 34 that serves as a stop. A handle 35 serves as a means for turning thescrew 32 for lengthening the frame. 45

Attached to the inclined braces 25 and 2B by suitable bearings and journals are pulleys 36 and 3'I that are preferably but not necessarily of the same diameter. Pulley 36 has a grooved ring 33 attached to its outer surface and operatively associated with this ring is a belt 39 that transmits power from the pulley 4I] of motor 4I. Motor 4I is connected to a source of electric current by suitable flexible conductors that have not been shown as such connections vare usual.

A sanding belt 42 is carried by the pulleys 36 and 31 and the tension of this belt can be adjusted by parts 38-35. A guy wire 43 has one end Wrapped about shaft Il), as shown in Fig. 1, and after passing over a pulley 44 has its other end attached to the lower end of the guy wire at the left. This guy wire prevents the sander from swinging to any appreciable extent in the direction of the length of the sander. Although only one guy Wire has been shown, it is obvious that two may be employed. The sander belt moves towards the right, as indicated by the arrow 45. A vertical guard is attached at its upper end to the diagonal brace 26 and extends downwardly in the manner shown. The object of this guard is to prevent the operators hand or a tool from being moved into a position where it will be caught between the belt and the pulley 31.

The sander, which has just been described, can be moved to any position along track 5 and the latter may extend from one wall and therefore when the sander is not in use it may be positioned near that wall so as to be as much out of the way and to take up as little valuable space as possible.

The material to be sanded, and which has been designated by numeral 46, in Fig. 2, rests on the top of a suitable bench or table whose supporting surface has been designated by numeral 41. The supports 48 may be the legs of the bench, two saw horses, two boxes or any other supports, and it is not essential that the upper surface of the supporting surface 41 or the upper surface of the work be level, but it is preferable if it is. The work is positioned some place beneath the tracks 5 and preferably at right angles thereto. The sander is now moved along the track until it is directly over the work, after which the frame 1a is clamped so as to prevent its accidental movement. The crank I5 is now manipulated to lower the sander to a position in which the sanding belt will Contact with the work, but in which the peripheries of the pulleys do not rest on the work. The motor is now started and the sanding belt is pressed against the work by a block 48 held in the hand of the operator. Block 48 is moved lengthwise of the belt and controls the rate of cutting. If the work is long, as in Fig. 2, it must be moved longitudinally to permit every part of its surface to be sanded. Where very long pieces are to be sanded, it may be desirable to employ another track at right angles to the rst. If the work inclines in the direction of its length, the turnbuckle 2l is manipulated to give the same inclination to the sander. Any transverse inclination of the work is taken care of by a slight twist of the sanding belt.

Attention is called to the fact that the sander can swing transversely of frame 1a on account of the flexible suspension and this makes it possible to evenly surface a board that is much wider than the belt.

Owing to the flexible and the adjustable suspension of the sander, the work can rest on any convenient supports, and need not be carefully leveled. If an additional track is provided work of any length can be surfaced without being moved and work of any reasonable width can be surfaced because the sander can be moved along the track.

The track and the adjusting means are all parts of this invention, the same as if the adjustments were incorporated in a smaller and more compact machine.

The transverse swing movement of the sander is important as it greatly facilitates the operation and the adaptability of the machine.

From the above it will be apparent that the machine described above illustrated on the drawing is very simple, can be built and installed at a comparatively small cost and does not need a complicated supporting device for the work. As a matter of fact, the lumber can be piled many layers deep on the supports and the upper layers surfaced and removed because the sander has a large vertical adjustment.

It is evident that the suspending means is reversible and such reversal is contemplated.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a belt sander comprising in combination, a frame having two pulleys, mounted for rotation about spaced parallel axes, a sander belt on the pulleys, and power means connected with one pulley for turning it, a stationary work support positioned beneath the sander, a track positioned above the sander, a frame supported on the track for movement therealong, means for supporting the sander from the frame, said means comprising two cables connected with the sander at spaced points along its length, and means for adjusting the length of the supporting means to raise and lower the sander.

2. In a belt sander comprising in combination, a sander frame having two pulleys, mounted for rotation about spaced parallel axes, a sander belt on the pulleys and power means connected with one pulley for turning it, a stationary work support positioned beneath the sander, a track positioned above the sander, a frame supported on the track for movement therealong, means suspending the sander from the frame, said means comprising two cables connected with the sander at spaced points along its length, means comprising a drum for adjusting the distance from the frame to the sander, and means for changing the relative lengths of those portions of the cables between the supporting frame and the movable frame whereby the sander can be tilted in the direction of its length.

3. In a belt sander comprising in combination,

a sander frame having two pulleys, mounted for` rotation about spaced parallel axes, a sander belt on the pulleys and power means connected with one pulley for turning it, a stationary work support positioned beneath the sander, a track positioned above the sander, a frame supported on the track for movement therealong, a drum carried by one frame and mounted for rotation, means for rotating the drum, means for holding the drum against rotation after it has been rotated, two cables attached to the drum to be wound thereon, and pulleys attached to the frame, the cables passing over the pulleys, the free ends of the cables being attached to the sander for swingably supporting the latter.

4. In a belt sander comprising in combination, a sander frame having two pulleys, mounted for rotation about spaced parallel axes, a sander belt on the pulleys and power means connected with one pulley for turning it, a stationary work support positioned beneath the sander, a track positioned above the sander, a frame supported on the track for movement therealong, a drum mounted for rotation, means for rotating the drum, means for holding the drum against rotation after it has been rotated, two cables attached to the drum to be Wound thereon, pulleys attached to the frame, the cables passing over the pulleys, the free ends of the cables being attached to the sander for swingably supporting the latter; and means'comprising a diagonal brace having its upper end connected with the supporting frame and its lower end connected with the sander frame for restraining the sander from swinging movement in the direction of its length.

5. In a belt sander comprising in combination, a sander frame having two pulleys, mounted for rotation about spaced parallel axes, a sander belt on the pulleys and power means connected with one pulley for turning it, a stationary Work support positioned beneath the sander, a track positioned above the sander, a frame supported on the track for movement therealong, a drum carried by one frame and mounted for rotation, means for rotating the drum, means for holding the drum against rotation after it has been rotated, two cables attached to the drum to be wound thereon, pulleys attached to the frame, the cables passing over the pulleys, the free ends of the cables being attached to the sander for swingably supporting the latter, and means for restraining the sander from swing movement in the direction of its length, said means comprising a flexible tension cab-le having one end connected with the drum. the cable passing over a pulley secured to` the frame and having its other end connected with the sander at a point longitudinally spaced from the position of the pulley wherebyV the sander will be restrained in its longitudinal movement in one direction.

6. Means for adjustably suspending a belt sander comprising in combination, a track, a frame supported by the track for movement therealong, a shaft extending transversely of the frame, a worm wheel on the shaft, a second shaft carried by the frame for rotation about its axis, a worm on the shaft for engagement with the worm wheel, a pulley at each end of the frame, and cables passing over the pulleys, one end of each cable being attached to the shaft for winding thereon and the other ends extending downwardly for attachment to a belt sander.

'7. Means for adjustably suspending a belt sander comprising in combination, a track, a frame supported by the track for movement therealong, a shaft extending transversely of the frame, a worm wheel on the shaft, a second shaft carried by the frame for rotation about its axis, a worm on the shaft for engagement with the worm Wheel, a pulley at each end of the frame, cables passing over the pulleys, one end of each cable `being attached to the shaft for winding thereon and the other ends extending downwardly for attachment to a belt sander, and a turnbuckle in one of the cables.

WILLIAM B. HICKEY. 

